25-6-15.
Restrictions on access to court records in adoption proceedings--Court order
required for disclosure of information--Notice of hearing to department or adoption agency--Disclosure not contested nor supported.
The files and records of the court in adoption proceedings
are not open to inspection or copy by persons other than the parents by adoption and their attorneys,
representatives of the Department of Social Services, and the child when he reaches maturity, except
upon order of the court expressly permitting inspection or copy. No person having charge of any
adoption records may disclose the names of any parents, or parents by adoption, or any other matter,
appearing in such records, or furnish certified copies of any such records, except upon order of the
court for the county in which the adoption took place or other court of competent jurisdiction except
as otherwise provided by this section and §§ 25-6-15.1 to 25-6-15.3, inclusive. The court may not
order disclosure of any matter appearing in adoption records unless the Department of Social
Services or the licensed adoption agency has received notice of the petition for disclosure of such
information and of the date fixed for hearing the petition. The Department of Social Services or the
licensed adoption agency shall neither contest nor support the petition for disclosure during its
hearing.
Source: SL 1939, ch 168, § 11; SDC Supp 1960, § 55.3716; SL 1985, ch 208, § 4; SL 1986, ch 214,
§ 1; SL 1986, ch 215.